Signaling apparatus.



No. 724,274. PATENTED MAR. 31, 1903.

v H A. PESSBNDEN.

v SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19. 1900.

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I J'wre/awor mwwroz fssemdh? No. 724,274. PATBNTED MAR, 31, 1903.

H; A. FESSENDEN. I SIGNALING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 19. 1900.

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H. A. FESSENDEN.

SIGNALING APPARATUS. I

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 19. 1900. A

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. Ifuramta'r 7'6 ssg 71/066 71/ UNITED STATES PATENT FFICEL HOWARD A. FESSENDEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO DETROIT ELECTRIC SIGNAL COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A PARTNERSHIP ASSOCIATION.

SIGNALING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 724,274, dated March 31, 1903. Application filed November 19,1900. Serial No. 37,026. (No model.)

ful Improvements in Signaling Apparatus, of

which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The inventionrelates to an improved type of signaling apparatus particularly designed for use in connection with boats; audit consists in the novel construction of the apparatus andin the peculiar arrangement and com- I bination of the various parts thereof, as fully hereinafter described,and shown in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modification. Fig. 3 is a view of the progress- ,ive signal with the dial removed. Fig. 4 isa section taken on line w as, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is an elevation ofa portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a vertical central section through the operating device and switches and the connecting mechanism between the parts; and- Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line y y, Fig. 6.

In the construction of myimproved signaling apparatus I employ a signal constructed to operate progressively and of necessity requiring to be restored or reset to its initial position after each complete operation. When the apparatusis usedin connection with boats, 5 two signals of the type described are employed, which are located in the customary manner in the pilot house or bridge and engine-room. Also audible signals in the form of electric bells are preferably used in con- 0 nection with the progressive signals and are adapted to be operated simultaneously with plainly shown in Fig. .4. Upon the arbor is fixed the scape wheel G, which engages with the pallet H uponthe rock-shaft C,and a gearpinion I, adapted to mesh with the gear-segment J, sleeved upon the stub-shaft D. The

' segment referred to is provided with a weighted arm K, and projecting from the opposite side of the segment. is a lug or arm L, the function of which will be hereinafter setforth.

M designates an operating-arm sleeved upon the stub shaft D, apertured to permit of the insertion ther'ethrough of'the arbor E, and having a fork or bifurcated upper end 0, engagingthe rock-arm P, fixed upon the rockshaft.

When the segment-gear J is moved by the mechanism hereinafter described to the position indicated in Fig. 3,the weight K is lifted and the arbor E is rotated to reset the indexhand to the zero or normal position. The

weight K by gravity then tends to move the segment-arm J in the reverse direction and to thereby rotate the gear I and the shaft E to indicate a signal. The shaft, however, is held from rotation by reason of the engagement of the long arm of the pallet H with the scape-wheel G, andthe shaft is not permitted to be rotated by the weight K until the pallet H is'operated through the operating-arm M and the rock-arm P, which it engages. Upon the movement of the operating-arm M by of times which the operatingyarm is moved or operated. It is believed that the operation of the pallet H and scape-wheel will be readily appreciated to be similar to an ordinary escapement.

" The means for operating the signal thus described consist of an electromagnetic mechanism comprising in its construction a signalcircuit Q, the magnet R, and the battery R included within said circuit, and a switch S,

controlling the circuit, having .an operating Fig. 5, with the operating-arm M of the signal, this type of connection permitting of the resetting of the apparatus independently of the armature. The circuit, as shown in Fig. i, is preferably normally closed. Upon the operation of the switch S therefor by means of the operating device T the circuit is broken and the magnet R demagnetized. The magnet-armature U is then free to be operated and is actuated by means of a coilspring W,which is attached to an extension X on the armature, as indicated in Figs 3 and 5.

It will be obvious from the description of the mechanism set forth that upon the denergizing of the magnet R the spring-actuated armature U will move the operatingarm M of the signal, and the index-hand of the latter will be advanced one step in its progressive movement, as above explained. Upon the closing of the circuit the parts will remain in the same position, because the arm M cannot move the pallet H in the reverse direction owing to the relative arrangement and position of the long arm of the pallet and the scape-wheel, the movement of the long arm being toward the center of rotation of the scape-wheel and having no tendency to rotate the latter; but upon again breaking the circuit the signal will be advaneedanother step. Thus any desired signal may be given by breaking the circuit the desired number of times.

To restore the progressive signal to its initial position, I employ an electromagnetic mechanism similar to that already described,

consisting of the resetting-circuit Y, includ ing the battery R, the magnet Z, and the switch Z, the latter being operated and controlled by the actuating device T before referred to. The magnet Z is arranged within the progressive-signal casing adjacent to the magnet R and is provided with a spring-actuated armature A. The resetting-circuit is also shown as normally closed, and upon breaking the same by the actuation of its switch the armature A is moved by its spring away from the magnet and into contact with the arm L upon the gear-segment J, returning the latter to its initial position independ ently of the armature U. The return movement of the gear-segment restores the indieating-hand to its initial position in readiness to record another signal.

In Fig. 1 the signaling apparatus is shown as arranged and adapted for use on boats, two progressive signals A A being preferably employed, as before stated, also a corresponding number of audible signals A A of the type described, the several signals being included. in series in the signal-operating circuit and simultaneously operated upon the breaking of the circuit. The operating device T controls both circuits through the switches previously referred to, and the connections between the switches and the operating device are of such a character that upon initially actuating the latter the electromagnetic mechanism for resetting the progressive signals will be caused to operate before the operation of the mechanism for actuating the progressive signals. The operating device referred to is preferably in the form of a rod T, provided with a suitable handle '1", (shown in diagrammatic view,) and is mounted for vertical and rotarymovement upon a suit able support C The support comprises the base-section C and the frame 1) thereon. The rod carries at its lower end the head E, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7, and interposed between the frame and head is a spring F, acting to hold the head normally upon the base. A locking-pin G, depending from the frame, extends in close proximity to the head and prevents vertical movement of the latter except when the aperture H in said head is brought into alinement with the pin by the rotary movement of the operating device T and head E. Contact-springs a, b are secured to the support and are connected to suitable binding-posts c c, which are included within the restoring or resetting circuit Y. The switch Z for the resetting-circuit, as indicated in Fig. 7, is of the knife type, adapted to engage between'the contact-springs, and is carried by the pivoted arm I.

J is a latch arranged upon the arm 1, prevented from movement in one direction by the pin d.

e designates a lug or finger upon the head E, which is adapted to strike the latch upon the rotary movement of the head and move the switch Z out of contact with the springs, thus breaking the resetting-circuit. The lug e is so formed that upon continuing the rotation of the head it will pass beyond the latch, allowing the switch Z to be moved by a suitable spring f again into engagement with the contact-springs. The head is returned automatically to its initial position (see Fig. 7) upon releasing the operatingdevice by means of the coil-spring F, which is connected to the head E and to the frame D.

The head E described has formed in its edge an annular groove g, in which a disk It engages, the disk being carried upon the pin 11, mounted in the framework and base-section, for vertical movement. Secured to the disk described is the switch S, which engages between the contact-springs 7t 70, mounted upon the base-section and connected to the binding-posts 7t it. These binding-posts in turn are included within the signal-circuit Q.

In operating the signaling apparatus the operator is obliged to rotate the operating device which coutrols the switches before the upward movement of the device can be effected. Such rotary movement breaks the resetting-circuit by moving the arm I, permitting the spring-actuated armature A to restore the indicating-hand to its initial position and immediately remakes the circuit by reason of the springf moving the arm back into engagement with the contact-springs 0. 1), thereby moving said spring-actuated armature back'to its initial position'and out of the way of the arm L. The head E having been rotated until the aperture therein is brought into alinement with the locking-pin G, the upward or sliding movement of the head E and switch S can then be efiected, and the signalcircuit is thereby broken, The successive vertical movements breaking the signal-circuit, as before stated, causes through the mechanism previouslydescribed the index-hand to advance step by step in its progressive movement. Upon releasing the said operating device it is returned to its lowest position by the spring F and then automatically rotated to its initial position by the spring before referred to, the latch J turning on its pivot and permitting the return movement to be effected without operating the switch controlling the resetting-circuit.

It will be readily observed from the description of the apparatus as thus set forth that by means of a single operating device I am enabled to give any signal desired and also to return the progressive signal to its initial position after the signal has been given. Furthermore, the apparatus is so constructed that the restoring or resetting of the progressive signal by turning the head E is necessarily efiected before a new signal can be given by raising the head, which prevents any confusion in signaling.

The circuits shown in Fig. l, as I have before stated, are normally closed, and the bells constituting the audible signals are of the single-stroke type. This is not essential, however, as it is obvious that the apparatus could be equally well operated on normally open circuits, andthat by changing the arrangement of circuits continuousringing bells could be employed instead of the single stroke shown.

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated a modification in the arrangement of the circuits whereby the bells are continuously rung during the interruption of the signal-operating circuit. Three linewires Z m oare employed between the mechanism in the-pilot-honse and that in the engine-room. The line Zconstitutes what will be hereinafter termed the signaloperating line, the line 0 the signal-resetting line, and the line m the returnline for the signal-operating circuit. The signal-operating line forms part of the normally closed circuit a which includes the bell-magnet B", the switch S, the signal-operating magnet R, and the return-line m. The signal-resetting line, as indicated, is included Within the normally closed circuit b which includes in addition to said resettingline the resetting-magnet Z, the'switch Z, and the signal-operating line Z. To continu-' ally ring the bell when the signal-operating line is broken, I form a circuit for the bell over the lines Z and 0. The circuit is designated by the reference-letter c and includes in addition to the lines Z and 0 the bell-magnet 13 and the armature therefor B The battery R as will be understoo'd,'is included in each of the circuits before referred to. Upon theoperation of the'switch S the sf}:- nal-operating line is broken and the bellmagnet B denergized. The armature l3 therefor is withdrawn from the magnet in the usual manner and moved against its contact d establishing the circuit 0 As soon as this circuit-is made the magnet B is again energized, and the bell continuously rings.

While I have shown 'in Fig. 2 an arrangement of circuits wherein threelines are used between two sets of signals, it will be readily seen that if desired the common return-line could be dispensed with by "grounding the signal operating and resetting lines. I do not desire to limit the invention, therefore, to metallic circuits, as shown in the drawings, although I deem the same preferable in use.

It is believed that the operation of the apparatus should be readily understood from the above description. When it is desired to make a signal, the operator first turns the handle T, thereby turning the head E and breaking the resetting-circuit by the operation of the arm I and the switch Z, as above described. In doing this, if a signal has already been indicated by the apparatus A "the index-hand is returned or' reset 'to zero. The turning of the head E brings'the hole H in line with the pin G, and the operator then lifts the device T and head. E, thereby lifting the switch S out of contact with the contact-spring k, and thereby breaking the signaling-circuit and operating the armature U and the operating-arm M, as above described. This moves the index-hand one step. If it is desired to move it two, three, or more steps, the operator must move the head E up two, three, or more times, respectively, once for each movement of the arm. If the desired signal has been given, upon releasing the device T the spring returns the head E to its lowermost position,-and after the head is free from the pin G the spring Fr otates the head to its normal or initial position. (Indicated at Fig. 7.) It will be understood that no signal can be sent or given until the head E is again turned, thereby first breaking or resetting the circuit and resetting or returning the index-hand. The operation of the individual devices or portions of the apparatus should with this general statement and the more specific statements given in connection with such device or apparatus be clear.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a signal-circuit including a signal adapted to operate progressively, a resettingcircuit for said signal, magnetic operating means in said resetting-circuit, adapted bya single impulse to reset the signal, a switch for each circuit, an operating device for the switches and connections between said oper-' ating device and switches compelling when the operating device is released after operation thereof the actuation of the resettingcircuit switch prior to the operating of the switch for the signal-circuit.

2. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a signal-circuit including a signal adapted to operate progressively, a resettingcircnit for said signal, a switch for each circuit, and an operating device for the switches mounted for endwise and rotary movement and controlling upon said movements respectively the switches included within the signal and resetting circuits.

3. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a signal-circuit including a signal adapted to operate progressively, a resettingcircuit for said signal, a switch for each circuit, an operating device for the switches mounted for rotary and endwise movement and controllingupon said movements respec-- tively the switchesincluded within the resetting and signal circuits, and means for preventing the initial endwise movement of the operating device until the rotary movement of the latter has been efiected.

4. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a normally closed signal-circuit including a signal adapted to operate progressively, a resettingcircuit for said signal also normallyclosed, magnetic operating means in said resetting-circuit adapted by a single action to reset the signal, an operating device controlling both circuits, and means for compelling the breaking of the resetting-cir cuit when the operating device is released after operation and in advance of the signalcircuit.

5. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a signal-operating line, a signal-resetting line, a signal-operating magnet and a bell-magnet in normally closed electric circuit with said signal-operating line, a signalresetting magnet in normally closed circuit with the signal-resetting line adapted by a single action to reset the signal, means for breaking the circuit through the signal-operating line to release the bell-magnet and armature and denergize the signal-operating magnet, and means for reestablishing the circuit through the bell-magnet in the retracted position of the armature, said reestablished circuit excluding the signal-operating magnet.

6. In a signaling apparatus, the combination of a normally closed signal-circuit including a signal adapted to operate progressively, a resetting-circuit for said signal also normally closed, magnetic operating means in said resetting-circuit adapted by a single action to reset the signal, a switch for each circuit, an operating device controlling the switches, and means for compelling the breaking and restoring of the resetting-circuit when the operating device is released after operation and prior to the breaking of the signalcireuit, substantially as described.

7. In a signaling apparatus,-the combination of an indicator, means for operating the same progressively,an operating-circuit therefor, a resetting-circuit for said indicator, magnetic operating means in said resetting-circuit adapted by a single action to reset the indicator, and mechanism controlling both cirlcuits and arranged so that when actuated the resetting-circuit is first effected after the action of the controlling mechanism to operate the resetting mechanism prior to each series {of progressive operations of the indicatorjoperating mechanism, substantially as described. 8. In a signaling apparatus, the combinaltion of an indicator, mechanism for operating ,the same progressively, a resetting mechaniism for said indicator, and mechanism conitrolling both said mechanisms and operating lautomatically after release to first operate by l a single action said resetting mechanism prior to each series of progressive operations of the indicator-actuating mechanism,substantiall y ias described.

9. In a signaling apparatus, the combina- Ition of a signal adapted to operate progress- ;ively and to be reset after any number of progressive operations, an electromagnetic 5 mechanism for actuating said signal progressively, similar mechanism for resetting the signal, an operating device, and means for compelling the operation by a single action of the resetting mechanism after the release of said operating device, and prior to each series of progressive operations of the signaL actuating mechanism, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HOWARD A. FESSENDEN.

Witnesses:

L. J. WHITTEMORE, H. 0. SMITH. 

